The myths of 2nd Season Syndrome

Does second season syndrome actually exist? I thought it did, I must admit, perhaps from the days when we Reading ‘Royals’ poo-pooed it in our second season - and it finally came to haunt us on the last day of the season. Is the case that after one successful season, complacency sets in – “we belong here now”? And does anyone superstitious really believe in it as a curse?

Well, I was going through the premier tables for the last decade, and I’ve come to the conclusion that if you can survive the first season, then you have every reason to look forward to an interesting premier career …

Here are they clubs that have been promoted (+ year) from the Championship – and alongside the PLACING they were for TWO seasons later:


2003-04
Norwich – relegated 1st season
WBA – 19th [2nd SS]
Palace - relegated 1st season

2004-05
Sunderland - relegated 1st season
Wigan – 17th SURVIVE
West Ham – 15th SURVIVE

2005-06
Reading – 18th [2nd SS]
Sheff Utd - relegated 1st season
Watford - relegated 1st season

2006-07
Sunderland – 16th SURVIVE
Birmingham - relegated 1st season
Derby - relegated 1st season

2007-08
W.B.A. - relegated 1st season
Stoke – 11th SURVIVE
Hull – 19th [2nd SS]

2008-09
Wolves – 17th SURVIVE
Birmingham – 18th [2nd SS]
Burnley - relegated 1st season

2009-10
Newcastle – 5th SURVIVE
W.B.A. – 10th SURVIVE
Blackpool - relegated 1st season

2010-11
Q.P.R. ? (survived 1st season)
Norwich ? (survived 1st season)
Swansea? (survived 1st season)
2nd Season ? Let’s wait and see … !


So, in the last 7 seasons only FOUR teams have suffered the supposed ‘SSS’ – yet TEN teams could not stay up in their first season. From this, the obvious yardstick should be ‘First Season Syndrome’ and not ‘Second Season Syndrome’! Agreed?

 

100% agree.

It is immediately obvious that the longer you stayin the league, the less likely you are to get relegated. Teams in their second season clearly still have quite a high chance, but nothing interesting

 

We have discussed this among ourselves in the summer and with those who try to justify their belief that Norwich are destined for relegation - based on the 2nd season syndrome You can easily identify people who just use such 2nd hand lines they have heard or read and actually know bugger all about what they are talking about and certainly do not research it to see if they are factually correct or not (unlike your good self)

Good luck for the coming season but please help us to survive again

 

One club suffering SSS every other season on average then. Not really such a concrete issue as most people seem to think. Although I suppose that probability will mean that one from Norwich, QPR or Swansea should go down this season coming.

 

It obviously does exist but not to the degree of making it an absolute certainty that it will happen each season.

 

we're also well over due none of the promoted sides staying up. Last time that happened was 97/98 when Bolton, Barnsley and Crystal Palace all went down.

 

Interesting replies lads, and good luck to yourselves too. There have always been good intense battles on the pitch between us.
I was in East Anglia last summer - Great Yarmouth way, but looked in a few times at Norwich. A lovely city, with an amazing history! I was researching it up last couple of weeks for inclusion in our match threads later in the season ...

 

Funnily enough, this came out last night. Still on the pointless 2nd SS thing, but at least Chris Hughton has had a rave write-up ...


Vital Football - Reading:

Manager: Chris Hughton - The former Birmingham manager is certainly one of the most under rated bosses in the Premier League. After gaining promotion with Newcastle back in 2009, he was not given his fair chance to shine as a Premier League manager. However, after steadying the ship at Championship side Birmingham and coming within a game of promotion to the top division, he has finally been given a chance. A level-headed manager who will give good stability and defensive-organisation to the Canaries.

Key player: Grant Holt - After a summer of uncertainty, the forward has signed a new deal and appears set to continue his goalscoring record. Good physical striker, with great finishing ability that has made some give him a chance for the England squad.

Season Preview: After Paul Lambert left the Canaries last month, I thought they would be doomed. However, the acquisition of Hughton has made me think twice. Second-season syndrome always comes into play and I think Norwich will unfortunately be in a relegation battle this season, but they have a great chance of escaping it with Hughton at the helm.

Complete article: http://www.reading.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=289778